Patentable/Patents/US-9803991
US-9803991

Route guide device and route guide method

PublishedOctober 31, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A route guide device includes a current position acquisition unit that acquires a current position, an input unit that inputs a destination, a route search unit that searches for a route from the current position to the destination, a level storage unit that stores a of user's learning level of road information, a route overview generation unit that generates entire route information for the entire route on the basis of the route found through the search and the learning level stored in the level storage unit, and a notification unit that notifies of the entire route information generated by the route overview generation unit.

Patent Claims
6 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A route guide device comprising: a current position acquisition unit configured to acquire a current position of the route guide device; an input unit configured to input a destination of a user; a route search unit configured to search for a route from the current position to the destination; a level storage unit configured to store a learning level indicative of how familiar the user is with a road; a route overview generation unit configured to generate entire route information indicating an overview of entire information of the route found by the route search unit based on the learning level stored in the level storage unit; and a notification unit configured to notify the user of the entire route information generated by the route overview generation unit, wherein the route overview generation unit is configured to: determine an aspect according to the learning level with respect to the route from a matrix which is stored in advance and indicates a predetermined number of sets of aspects associated with the learning level, generate the entire route information from a description of the determined aspect, and wherein, in the matrix, the learning level with which a set including a first passage region and a traffic characteristics is associated is higher than the learning level with which a set not including the first passage region and the traffic characteristics is associated, among sets including a geographic property and a first road type as the aspect, the learning level with which a set including a second road type, a second passage region and a third passage region instead of the geographic property, the first road type and the first passage region is associated is higher than the learning level with which a set including the geographic property, the first road type and the first passage region is associated, among sets including the traffic characteristics as the aspect, and the learning level with which a set including a fourth passage region instead of the traffic characteristics is associated is higher than the learning level with which a set including the traffic characteristics is associated, among sets including the second road type, the second passage region and the third passage region as the aspect, the geographic property being a description of geographic property of a road included in the route, the traffic characteristics being a description of ease of driving included in the route, the first road type being a description of a type of a road included in the route, the second road type being a description of a road name included in the route, the first passage region being a name of a prefecture included in the route, the second passage region being a city name or a ward name included in the route, the third passage region being a landmark name included in the route, and the fourth passage region being a street name, a town name or a village name included in the route.

Plain English Translation

A route guidance system provides navigation tailored to the user's familiarity with the roads. It gets the current location, takes in a destination from the user, and calculates a route. The system stores a "learning level" representing the user's road knowledge. It creates a route overview based on the calculated route and this learning level. The overview generation determines which details to show from a pre-defined matrix linking road aspects (like landmarks, road types, traffic) to learning levels. Higher learning levels trigger more detailed information, e.g., showing street names instead of just regions, or including traffic conditions. It then notifies the user of this tailored route overview.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The route guide device according to claim 1 , wherein the notification unit notifies of the entire route information when a vehicle starts traveling.

Plain English Translation

The route guidance system, providing navigation tailored to the user's familiarity with the roads that gets the current location, takes in a destination from the user, calculates a route, stores a "learning level" representing the user's road knowledge, creates a route overview based on the calculated route and this learning level determining which details to show from a pre-defined matrix linking road aspects (like landmarks, road types, traffic) to learning levels, and notifies the user of this tailored route overview, displays the entire route information automatically when the vehicle starts moving.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The route guide device according to claim 1 , wherein the learning level is acquired based on a travel history of a vehicle.

Plain English Translation

In the route guidance system that provides navigation tailored to the user's familiarity with the roads, gets the current location, takes in a destination from the user, calculates a route, stores a "learning level" representing the user's road knowledge, creates a route overview based on the calculated route and this learning level determining which details to show from a pre-defined matrix linking road aspects (like landmarks, road types, traffic) to learning levels, and notifies the user of this tailored route overview, the user's road knowledge ("learning level") is automatically determined based on the vehicle's past travel history.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The route guide device according to claim 1 , further comprising a route selection unit configured to select the entire route information on one of a plurality of routes according to an instruction of the user, wherein the route overview generation unit generates the entire route information on the plurality of routes, the notification unit notifies of the entire route information on the plurality of routes, and the route selection unit acquires a selection instruction indicating the entire route information selected by the user from among the entire route information on the plurality of routes notified of by the notification unit.

Plain English Translation

The route guidance system – providing navigation tailored to the user's familiarity with the roads that gets the current location, takes in a destination from the user, calculates a route, stores a "learning level" representing the user's road knowledge, creates a route overview based on the calculated route and this learning level determining which details to show from a pre-defined matrix linking road aspects (like landmarks, road types, traffic) to learning levels, and notifies the user of this tailored route overview – presents the user with multiple route options. The system generates an overview for each route, shows all the overviews to the user, and lets the user select their preferred route. The chosen route is then used for guidance.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The route guide device according to claim 1 , wherein the learning level is input by the user.

Plain English Translation

In the route guidance system that provides navigation tailored to the user's familiarity with the roads, gets the current location, takes in a destination from the user, calculates a route, stores a "learning level" representing the user's road knowledge, creates a route overview based on the calculated route and this learning level determining which details to show from a pre-defined matrix linking road aspects (like landmarks, road types, traffic) to learning levels, and notifies the user of this tailored route overview, the user manually inputs their own road knowledge level.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. A route guide method comprising: acquiring, via a current position acquisition unit, a current position of a route guide device; inputting, via an input unit, a destination of a user; searching, via a route search unit, for a route from the current position to the destination; storing, via a level storage unit, a learning level indicative of how familiar the user is with a road; generating, via a route overview generation unit, entire route information indicating an overview of entire information based on the learning level; and notifying, via a notification unit, the user of the entire route information, wherein generating the entire route information includes determining an aspect according to the learning level with respect to the route from a matrix which is stored in advance and indicates a predetermined number of sets of aspects associated with the learning level, generating the entire route information from a description of the determined aspect, and wherein, in the matrix, the learning level with which a set including a first passage region and a traffic characteristics is associated is higher than the learning level with which a set not including the first passage region and the traffic characteristics is associated, among sets including a geographic property and a first road type as the aspect, the learning level with which a set including a second road type, a second passage region and a third passage region instead of the geographic property, the first road type and the first passage region is associated is higher than the learning level with which a set including the geographic property, the first road type and the first passage region is associated, among sets including the traffic characteristics as the aspect, and the learning level with which a set including a fourth passage region instead of the traffic characteristics is associated is higher than the learning level with which a set including the traffic characteristics is associated, among sets including the second road type, the second passage region and the third passage region as the aspect, the geographic property being a description of geographic property of a road included in the route, the traffic characteristics being a description of ease of driving included in the route, the first road type being a description of a type of a road included in the route, the second road type being a description of a road name included in the route, the first passage region being a name of a prefecture included in the route, the second passage region being a city name or a ward name included in the route, the third passage region being a landmark name included in the route, and the fourth passage region being a street name, a town name or a village name included in the route.

Plain English Translation

A route guidance method tailors navigation to the user's familiarity with the roads. It involves obtaining the current location, receiving the destination from the user, and calculating a route. The method stores a "learning level" representing the user's road knowledge. It generates a route overview based on the calculated route and the learning level. The method determines which details to show from a pre-defined matrix linking road aspects (like landmarks, road types, traffic) to learning levels. Higher learning levels trigger more detailed information, e.g., showing street names instead of just regions, or including traffic conditions. The method then notifies the user of this tailored route overview.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

February 18, 2016

Publication Date

October 31, 2017

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